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From the towering
mountains of the Abruzzo - perhaps Italy's last frontier with it's
inaccessible hilltowns and forests still providing
refuge to wolves and bears - to the flatlands of Puglia with
thousand year old olive trees and magical clusters of the strange
conical houses known as trulli,you will be constantly reminded that
there is no other place that matches the cultural richness of Italy.
The country we travel through is fascinating and at times
spectacular. Living Italy explores the ancient past and the
exhilarating present in this fascinating journey from the great
mountains of the central Apennines to the castles of Frederick II
and the Saracen strongholds of Southern Puglia stopping at Vietri on the coast on the
way. Known as the 'Mezzogiorno', the Italian south is a
fascinating mix of Greek, Norman, Arab, French and Spanish
influences. With a history significantly different from that of the
north, this half of what was once the Kingdom of the two Sicilies
has seen greater misery but also periods of extraordinary splendour
and cultural ambition which have left abundant traces throughout the
region. Excellent meals of local produce will be included at
strategic places within the itinerary, and the whole package will be
threaded together with Neil Moore's insights on history, art,
architecture and contemporary life. And of course we will feel
obliged to compare the local wines to those in our previous Italian
tours |
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The castle and octagonal church at Calascio, (from which you can almost see the whole width of the
Italian peninsular)
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The beautiful Romanesque abbey of San Clemente at
Casauria
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Ancient Greek ruins of Paestum (equal of
anything in Sicily)
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Matera, Unesco site, troglodyte city unique in
Italy
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The Romanesque cathedral of Trani
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The trulli houses of Alberobello & surrounding
towns - idiosyncratic conical architecture also unique in Italy
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The Spanish derived baroque of Martina Franca, Ostuni
and Lecce
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Castel
del Monte
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Our selection for this itinerary are amongst the most extraordinary
accommodation to be found in Italy and are worthy destinations in
themselves. The focus is on 'Albergo diffuso' accommodation where the rooms are spread out
within an urban habitat, not necessarily connected one to another, and
provide an unforgettable experience of really living the life of the
locals.
In Abruzzo
We stay in an ancient town revived through the acquisition by one owner
of a significant proportion of a stunning mountain top village, with the
aim of recreating as far as possible its original atmosphere and aspect
while still providing the high standards required by today's discerning
traveller. It is a unique and unforgettable experience and like no other
hotel.
In Matera
our accommodation is nestling in the heart of the 'sassi' area of
Matera, a troglodyte town and a world heritage Unesco site where the
houses are the built facades to caves excavated in the soft volcanic
cliffs. Our rooms are in these caves! Recently the setting for Mel
Gibson's Passion of Christ, the place has been inhabited continuously
since Neolithic times.
In Locorotondo
our accommodation is situated in this
fascinating whitewashed town built in concentric circles in the midst of
a landscape of 'trulli', the remarkable conical stone houses that are
such a feature of this part of Puglia. |
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Sun 03 Oct 2010 Arrival O'night Santo Stefano D
The tour
begins at Rome's Fiumicino
Airport at 10.30am followed by lunch at the port of
Fiumicino, where the Tiber meets the sea, before a group transfer to Santo Stefano in
the Abruzzo.
Welcome drinks and dinner in the ancient dining room at
the accommodation. [We highly recommend - particularly if travelling
with Emirates - arriving one day early and staying overnight at the
Airport Hilton Hotel to refresh after the flight.]
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Mon 04 Oct Castles and Monasteries O'night Santo Stefano B
Today we
visit the extraordinary castle of Calascio
and the nearby octagonal church in what can only be described as an
exhilarating setting. Lunch at Calascio (not included). In the afternoon a visit to Campo Imperatore and a view of Italy's tallest mountain
south of the alps.
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Tue 05 Oct San Clement di Casauria O'night Santo Stefano B
A free
morning to enjoy the town of Santo Stefano. Afternoon visit to the renowned
Romanesque
monastery of San Clemente at Casauria.
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Wed 06 Oct Scanno
O'night Santo Stefano
B
The main part of the day is taken up with a visit to the hidden
town of Scanno. Driving past turquoise mountain lakes, returning we visit some of the
spectacular small hilltowns in the area |
Thu 07 Oct
Sulmona &
Vietri Overnight Vietri B
D
Leaving this
morning to transfer to Vietri we stop first at the town of Sulmona, home of the poet Ovid.
After lunch we head for the
Amalfi coast and a change of historic pace, arriving in the
21st century at Vietri. |
Fri 08 Oct Paestum & Matera O'night Matera
B
In Paestum we view the best Greek ruins on the Italian peninsular and the delightful small
museum from the painted tombs of ancient Poseidonia. Then onto Matera - Unesco world heritage sight,
where the city built into the stone hills called 'i sassi' make up a unique
and extraordinary urban landscape which we explore at our leisure this
afternoon |
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Fri 09 Oct Matera O'night Matera
B |
Sun 10 Oct
Matera &
The Chapel of
Original Sin
O'night Matera B
We travel to
the chapel of The Original Sin - the Sistine
chapel of Rupestrian wall painting. Wine tasting included. |
Mon 11 Oct
Trulli & Masseria O'night Locorotondo B L
Today we travel to
the area of the famous Trulli. After
settling into our accommodation we have a
delicious lunch featuring local produce, and a wine tasting at a local “masseria”
just outside of the town.
The afternoon is free to explore the town of Locorotondo. |
Tue 12 Oct
Castel del Monte, Trani &
Polignano O'night Locorotondo
B
Drive to the Emperor Frederick II's amazing octagonal
hunting lodge of Castel del Monte, used by Umberto Eco as the concept
for the octagonal library in Name of the Rose. |
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Wed 13 Oct
Martina Franca, Alberobello O'night Locorotondo
B
Visit
stylish
Martina
Franca. and
then on to Alberobello, city of the trulli.
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Thu 14 Oct
Ostuni &
Lecce
O'night Locorotondo
B D
In the
morning we travel to the elegant town of Lecce where
we have a guided tour and time off for shopping.
Visit the white town of Ostuni
in the afternoon. Final dinner this evening in a characteristic local
restaurant.
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Fri 15 Oct Departure - Bari B
Transfer to
Bari
airport where the tour officially ends at around 10am. If your flight leaves before this
time we will arrange a separate transfer for you from the
accommodation, however additional charges will apply.
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